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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> newbie from MN with Qs
        
(Message started by: minnesotagal on Jul 4^th, 2006, 3:50pm)

Title: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by minnesotagal on Jul 4^th, 2006, 3:50pm

Hi there! I just had the second CH today in my life and am looking for some help! The first was about 3.5 months ago and my first question is does CHs start slow and then work up to more frequent? How did some of you start off with the frequency or pain levels?

Also - I can't thank all of you enough for the insight you've shared.

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by LeLimey on Jul 4^th, 2006, 4:50pm

Hello!
Nice to meet you - just wish it wasn't here.
In answer to your question, Yes, CH can start up much more erratically for some than others. This can make it harder to diagnose so keep as detailed a headache diary as you can - it all helps believe me!
Have you been diagnosed with CH? Do you have any meds? Tell us a bit more about what's been happening for you and let's see what we can do to help! :)
Helen

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by minnesotagal on Jul 4^th, 2006, 8:47pm

The first CH I had was in March - my husband was in the hospital and I happened to wake up with the sharp needle pain in my eye. Thankfully I was in the right place and the doctor was in the room within about an hour and he was able to diagnose it quickly (said it was probably stress related). Today, I woke up again with the same sharp shooting needle pain in my eye but didn't think I was that stressed to bring on another one.

Since this is only the second CH I've had, I don't have any meds nor have I seen my own doctor formally for this. I guess I wouldn't be over-reacting to make an appt and get some meds to help the pain for the next time.

Without all of you for support, I really wouldn't know that CHs are such a large problem and such a life disabling problem should they progress in frequency. All of the information you have all shared really helps the newbies and helps us to prepare for what may or may not come in the future. Any further advice and insight anyone can share is greatly appreicated! Talk to you all soon!

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jul 4^th, 2006, 9:03pm

Hi Welcome to the site.

Helen has already given you good advise, read as much as you can from the links to the left.

As to your question " How did some of you start off with the frequency or pain levels? " there is currently a thread running about this, here's the link it may give you the insight you need.

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=chspecific;action=display;num=1151878270

Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 4^th, 2006, 9:04pm

Hi Minnesotagal. Welcome.

I'm assuming you've read the links to the left? Taken the cluster quiz? That's the place to start.

Also, as Helen recommended, keep a diary. In it note the day, the time of day, the length or duration of pain, how you react to the pain, what you take, what works and doesn't.

In answer to your question, we are all different in how our cycles start. For me, it's one every few days, quickly followed by one every other day, quickly followed by one every day - all at the same time of day (9:00 pm). At the peak of cycle, 2 a day (with the second one always in mid-afternoon). At the beginning they last about 30 minutes, but get longer as the cycle progresses. Couldn't live without the medical treatment I receive during cycle since I've been diagnosed.

Read, Read Read all you can here and keep your diary. Take it all to a respectable neurologist - preferable one who specializes in cluster headaches.

Keep us informed. Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by chewy on Jul 4^th, 2006, 9:32pm

Quote:

Since this is only the second CH I've had,

Quote:

The first was about 3.5 months ago

They are called cluster headaches because they come in clusters.

Quote:

Today, I woke up again with the same sharp shooting needle pain in my eye but didn't think I was that stressed to bring on another one.

The pain of clusters is a lot more intense than a pain in the eye. Have you researched other types of headaches?

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by georgej on Jul 5^th, 2006, 1:57am

Kris is right. The cluster quiz is a great place to start. Get a second opinion as well.

We're all different--I think that quite often the CH starts sporadically and then settles into a pattern, so you may well have it. Just be sure to eliminate any other organic causes first, because most CH treatments wouldn't do you any good if it's not what you have.

Watch for some of the secondary characteristics as well--besides the pain, which generally centers around and behind the eye, but extends across the forehead on one side, down into the region of the zygomatic arch, across the temple on the headache side, and (often) down the back of the neck to the base of the cervical vertebrae where a palpable ganglion lump might appear. Does the eye on your headache side turn red and tear up? Does the eyelid on your headache side droop? Does the sinus on your headache side get stuffed up? Do you sweat during your headaches? Do you get restless and pace? These are all pretty common characteristics.

My best wishes to you. I've dealt with these things for a very long time and have developed a whole range of coping strategies to deal with them--I KNOW they will go so far and no farther-- but I haven't forgotten how helpless one can feel when you're first in the grip of them.

Also, you mention that stress may have brought on the first headache. I've never noticed that stress or any "trigger" brought on the CH--the only things that seem to have any effect on them is photoperiod, alcohol (when in cycle), REM sleep, and the passage of time. No stress or dietary triggers that I've ever seen, and believe me, I've tried to isolate them all.

Regards,

George

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 5^th, 2006, 8:43am

My first and second CH were about 3 months apart. Then a year later, I had my first cycle, which only lastest a couple of weeks. I think it was the following year that I had my first complete cycle. It was not until then that I was diagnosed because they were not "clustery" until then.

Title: Re: newbie from MN with Qs
Post by Charlotte on Jul 5^th, 2006, 1:48pm

I think we've all been misdiagnosed so much we become sceptics.

Welcome aboard, minnestotagal.

I don't remember the beginnings of mine. I was misdiagnosed for decades.

Mine start usually start out in a pattern at a lower degree of pain and progress in intensity until the end of the pattern is very intense with back to back hits and a few minutes in between.

Some of my patterns start out intense and last a day, a month or 8 - 12 weeks.

Meds that work at lower degree of pain and intensity do not work later on.

Charlotte